32 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



Jakuary 13, 1912. 



NOTES FROM KEW. 



Clerodendron cephalanthum. 



There is a large amount of variability 

 among the different species of cleroden- 

 drons^ some being vigorous climbers, while 

 others form more or less compact shrubs 

 or trees. The species at the head of th's 

 note is stated to be a climber, but it is 

 flowering in a small state in the inter- 

 mediate portion of the T range. The 

 ovate leaves are of a dark green tint, and 

 the flowers are disposed in dense terminal 

 heads. Like many members of the genus, 

 the calyx is large, being wdiite, with slight 



purplish suffusion 



T he flo w e r s . wh i ch 



protrude therefrom, consist of a slender 

 tube, nearly three inches in length, 

 greenish white, while the spreading seg- 



mueh lighter blue than those of E. macran- 

 tlium. Close by is a specimen of the small 

 lilac-fiowered E. affine, whioh is interesting 

 as being one of the discoveries on the Islau'J 

 of Socotra, at the same time as Begonia 

 socotrana. While E. affine is a pretty 

 little flowering plant, it is much less showy 

 than E. macranthum. 



Aphelandra Fascinator. 



* 



This species of aphelandra is a native 

 of Colombia, but is not known to anything 

 like the same extent as some of the others. 

 A distinguishing feature is the way in which 

 the leaves are striped with silvery-white 

 on an olive-green ground, Avhile though 

 the flowers of many members of the genus 

 are scarlet, those of A. Fascinator are of 

 a vivid and imcommon shade. Like the 



ments, which are about an inch across, are ""^Y^' f «^ comparatively easy culture, 

 white very slightly tinged with purple. ""^T "'^J. ^^en 'n good condition m the 



The much-exserted stamens are of a pinkish 

 tint. This clerodendron is a native of Zan- 

 zibar, and was, according to the Diction- 

 ary of Gardening/' introduced in 1888. 

 Outside of a botanic garden it is a very 

 uncommon species. 



Ja.sminum Maing:a.yi. 



This uncommon warm-house species of 

 jasmine is exceedingly valuable from the 

 fact that it flowers throughout the winter, 

 as may be seen by a specimen trained to a 

 rafter in the T range. The foliage is of a 

 neat tint, and the starry white flowers are 

 borne freely in clusters at the points of 

 the shoots. Though but little known, and, 

 I believe, comparatively new, it well merits 

 more extended cultivation. 



Plumbagro rosea superba. 



This plumbago, which is often known in 

 gardens as P. coccinea, and is usually 

 grown in bush form, is, in the T range, 

 trained to the roof^ and in tliis way it 

 forms a really striking feature, the long 

 spikes of bright-coloured blossoms disposing 

 themselves in a pleasing and informal 

 manner. It is not sufficiently vigorous to 

 be trained to the roof of lofty structures, 

 but, as grown at Kew, it is really most 

 striking. Being a taller grower than P. 

 rosea itself, this brighter-coloured variety 

 is better adapted for training to a roof or 

 rafter. Plumbago rosea is a very old occu- 



intermediate portion of the T. range. 



Jacobinia coccinea. 



This, one of the oldest of the jacobinias, 

 is more often met with in gardens as Jus- 

 ticia coccinea. Of stout^ upright growth, 

 with a terminal head of scarlet blossoms, 

 it is just now very noticeable. AVhere a 

 display of flowers has to be kept up at all 

 seasons, this is particularly valuable f om 

 the fact that its bright-coloured l.lossoms 

 are borne in the winter months. Now in 

 flower in the T range. A desirable f.^nture 

 of the jacobinias is that they are :or the 

 most part of easy culture. 



t 



Aloe Thraski. 



A couple of fine specimens of this noble 

 South African species of aloe are flowering 

 freely in the Succulent House. They show 

 well the disthietive character of the vege- 

 tation which so frequently occurs m South 

 Africa, and, furthermore, they are, from 

 a flowering point of view, most attractive. 

 This aloe must, I should say, be classed 

 with the larger-growing members of the 

 genus, the erect, stout, naked stem being 

 several feet in height, and crowned with a 

 handsome head of leafage, which is, in its 

 turn, overtopped by numerous spikes of 

 blossoms, disposed in an erect branching 

 panicle. The leaves recurve in a very 

 regular maimer, and are from three to four 

 feet in length, and six inches wide at the 



pant of gardens, and its variety superba ^^'^.^] whence ^they narrow gradually 



has now been grown for many years. 



Tupistra grrandis. 



The tupistras form a very singular group 

 of the order Liliacoje. From the thickened 

 rhizome leaves somewhat resembling those 

 of an aspidistra, but narrower, are pro- 

 duced. From a flowering point of view, T. 

 grandis, now in bloom in the stove portion 

 of the T range, is well worthy of considera- 

 tion. The flowers are borne in an erect, 

 closely-packed spike, and are deep shining 

 purple, against which ground the lighter- 

 tinted disc-like stigma stands out in a 

 marked manner. The general effect of the 

 inflorescence, Avhich stands al>out fifteen 

 inches high is that of a verv narrow, elon- 



gated 



hyacinth. 



m zeylanicum 



As seen in the T range, this is quite dis- 

 tmct from E. macranthum, with which it 

 is sometimes confounded. This last-named 

 IS now generally well known, for it has 

 been extensively shown at Westminster 

 within the last few vears. A notable fea- 

 ture of this beautiful flowering plant is 

 the mtense bluish-purple colour of its bios, 

 soms. From this better-known kind the 



to a point. The flowers are yellow, and 

 suggest those of a tritoma. 



Eupatoriums. 



The value of these at this season is well 

 shown in the greenhouse, where a large 

 ground of Eupatorium Weinmannianum. 

 This, often knoAvn as E. odoratissum, is 

 in full I)looni. Hapidly approaching that 

 stage are some exampU^s of Eupatorium 

 petiolare, wliose^ daisy-like flower heads 

 have, as thoy are <leveloping, a pinkish 

 tinge. This last forms very handsome spe- 

 < imens, and in a cut state the flowers last 

 a long time in water, added to which they 

 emit a pleasing fragrance. 



Crassula lactea. 



This might well be more often grown for 

 the sake of its winter-flowering qualities 

 than it is, for it is just now very pretty. 

 In the greenhouse small-flowering specimens 

 in four-inch pots are employed for the edg- 

 ing of one or two groups, and well suited 

 they are for tliis pur])ose. It is a free- 

 growing plant, the stem being stout, and 

 the ovate leaves of a thick fleshy nature. 

 It reaches a height of a foot or so, and 

 branches out towards the base so that it 



w...^^ .FA ii^v..^ »T II 1. HH- tmiTiTr .-517 IL 



specimen ot tj. zeylanicum differs in its far forms a mass or clump. The starry flowers 



in gardens nowadays, it is quite an old 

 plant, having been introduced from South 

 Africa in 177.4. A second species of cras- 

 sula, namely, C. spathulata, is largely used 

 as an edging to the stages of the Succu- 

 lent House. It is of free growth, and the 

 decumbent stems, which spread a consiider- 

 able distance, hang down from the stage, 

 and thus form a living fringe. The leaves 

 are small, almost round, and of a dark green 

 colour. The flow^ers are w-hite, tinged with 

 pink, but they do not add much to the 

 merits of the plant, its principal claim to 

 recognition being its free growth and neat 

 leafage. 



Luculia g:ratissima. 



A large specimen of this magnificent 

 Himalayan shrub, planted out in one of 

 the beds of the Temperate House, is now 

 in flower, and in this stage its beauty is 

 unsiirpassed. It succeeds much better 

 planted out than when grown in pots or 

 tubs^ as under these latter conditions it is 

 not always satisfactory. When laden with 

 its large bright pink flow^er heads it is a 

 sight to be remembered. Of all the dif- 

 ferent subjects that I have propagated from 

 cuttings, this luculia is affected more than 

 any other if the cuttings are allowed to 

 flag before expansion, though Coprosina 

 Baueriana variegata is nearly as bad. 



The Alpine House. 



As might be expected, there is not a very 

 long list of plants in flower thus early in 

 the year, though some very beautiful and 

 interesting subjects are already in 

 bloom. The charming, and withal fragile- 

 looking, iXaroissus bull)ocodium monophyl- 

 lus serves to remind one of the coming 

 daffodil season, while snowdrops are re- 

 presented by the noble-looking Galanthus 

 Elwesi Whittali, by Galanthus Elwesii it- 

 self, and Galanthus byzantinus. Helle- 

 borus niger (Christmas Rose), and dts tall- 

 growing variety, H. niger altifolius, sup- 

 ply bold masses of white, while the golden 

 flowers of Crocus vitellinus and Sternbergia 

 Fischeriana are very bright and effective. 

 Beside these there are the distinct white- 

 flowered Colchicum libanoticum, Meren- 

 dera caucasica, Cyclamen ibericum Alys- 

 sum Bornmuelleri, with tiny white flowers; 

 Saxifraga Burseriana grandiflora, one of 

 the finest of white-flowered saxifrages ; the 

 yellow-flowered Saxifraga apiculata, and 

 Saxifraga Haagi, a pretty hybrid kind. 

 Some pots of the Winter Heliotrope (Peta- 

 sites fragrans) enabled one to enjoy the 

 sweet-scented flowers better than when 

 they are growing in the open. A word of 

 caution must, however, be given with this 

 last, as if planted out in good ground it 

 will soon l)ecome a terrible nuisance. 



K. 



or thereabouts^ while' the flower's ^^e of a 



are white, and freely produced in spread- 

 ing panicles. Though not very much known 



CHRYSANTHEMUM 



MRS. U THORN. 



There are very few more reliable varie- 

 ties than this ; every small bud will de- 

 velop into a clean flower, and every isniall 

 shoot will bear a bud. The colour is a 

 clear, rich yellow ; the A'ariety being 

 (clasised witih ihe Japanese incurved. I 

 do not know of many varieties that 

 bear flowers which will last fresh on 

 the ])l;uits or in a cut state for a 

 long(u* time. There is only one fault, 

 not a iserious om^ namely, the young buds 

 a.r© very brittle ;ind soon break off. The 

 stems li;u-deii nuil do not readily snap off 

 as the- flowtw s rlp\ <'lop ; the leai^cs are 

 usually niild(nv-rt^sisting, and last frcsfh for 

 a long p*^rio<l^ wen in semi-dark conserva- 

 tories—a gcad point. 



Geo. Garner. 



